Tapping-bung.



No. 689,338. Patented Dec. l7, 190i. H. WENDT.

TAPPING BUNG. [Application filed. ml 29, 1901. (No Model.) sheets-wheat I.

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No. 689,338. Patented Dec. l7, l90l. H. WENDT.

TAPPING BUNE.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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TH: mums PETERS cn. PHOIO-LITHO" WASfiINGTON, n c.

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FATENT HENRY WENDT, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND IWIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL FAUCET COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TAPPlNG-BUNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 689,338, dated December 1'7, 1901.

Application filed March 29, 190L' Serial No. 53,461. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY WVENDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State 5 of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tapping-Brings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for tapping beer-kegs,commonly known as tapping- 1o bungs. The devices at present used are hollow brass attachments which are driven against the wooden bungs or against corks held in such wooden bungs, which they replace, in the barrel. A draft tube or pipe I5 passes from the bottom of the barrel up through the bung, which is controlled by a cock or faucet at the point of delivery. Such bungs are intended to be driven with soft wooden or rubber-faced mallets; but it frezo quently happens that such mallet-s are mislaid and that any heavy piece or article of metal that is convenient is used for driving.

This defaces and injures the metal, sometimes strips threads or mutilates them, and 2 5 causes continual annoyance, as well as loss in replacing and repairing the damaged devices.

My bung is intended to be a permanent part of the barrel, thus dispensing with the driving out of corks by the forcible insertion of a metal bung.

I have embodied my invention in a mechanical structure, which is fully hereinafter described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a section of my apparatus with some parts in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the flanged facing-ring. Fig. 3 is a section on line as at of Fig. 1. Fig. a is an elevation f of the plug which forms the valve-seat and 40 of the valve. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the toothed ring which operates the valve. Fig.

6 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. ,7 is a bottom plan of the exterior .tube of .the bung. j

Fig. 8 is a cross-section of ,the facing-ring of 1 5 Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a general view of a been drawing apparatus in which my invention forms a part.

A beer-keg is represented ate, in the head 5 of which is formed a hole to receive a metal- 5o lic bushing b, which is held in place by a thread formed on its periphery and which enters the wood. The bushing is ofiset to form a shoulder 0, adjacent to which is an inner female screw -thread. Engaging with this bushing is a thread on the exterior of the bung-casing d, which extends through the bushing and into the barrel, it being offset to .rest upon the shoulder 0. Within this casing and closely fitting it is a plug e, having two intersecting passages fg at right angles extending entirely through it. The passage f is the valve-seat and is tapered to receive the conical valve 71, which normally closes the passage g. This valve is provided with a gear "6, shown as a bevel-gear, and is transversely perforated, so that in open position such perforation registers with and forms a continuation of the passage 9 of the plug. The bung-casing and plugare relatively fixed, as by one or more set-screwsj. Above the plug and fitting the casing dis a ringk, Figs. 5 and 6, formed with a partial gear Z, which engages the gear 2' and which is capable of being turned, so as either to open or close the valve. A flanged facing-ring w is screwed inside the bung-casing, and its flange compresses a packingz between the bushing, the barrel, and the bung-casing. The surface of the facing-ring bears upon the ring 15 and may be slightly and oppositely beveled (dotted 8 lines in Fig. 1) to cause a slight wedging action in contact, and so positively hold the gears in engagement and keep all the parts in proper position without looseness or plan.

The edge of the turning ring Z0 has oppositely-placed notches m, with which, when the parts are in proper position, with valve closed, register notches n in the face-ring. If a proper tool be inserted through these notches n and into the notches m, the ring it can be 9,0 turned, causing the gearing to open the valve, nor can such tool be withdrawn until the notches and n register with the valve closed. Such a tool might be anysuitable faucet whose end is provided with lugs to fit said notches, and such a faucet would be used were the beer to be drawn for consumption at the keg. I have preferred, however, to show the adaptation of the device to the modern systems of drawing beer for delivery at a distance from the keg under pressure of compressed air or gas and through a long draft-tube. When the keg is to be connected to the draft apparatus, an external tube 0, having lugs q, Fig. 7, is pressed through the face-ring until the lugs enter the notches n and stop. This tube may have a cock q, and its upper end is provided with the gland r and packing s; but the cock q is not necessary, since the draft-tube t fits the gland snugly and compresses the packing. WVhen the tube 15 has been inserted past the gland, the cock q, if used, is opened and the draft-tube passed through. The tube 0 is now given a turn, its lugs acting on ring 70 and the gears so as to open the main valve h.

The draft-tube is now pushed through the main valve and on and down nearly to the bottom of the keg, as shown in Fig. 9, which also illustrates the continuation of such tube to a point of delivery where it is provided with a controlling-faucet.

In Fig. 1 at u is shown the inlet for compressed air or gas, provided with a split rubber valve 1; or other suitable valve opening to pressure from WilllOLltand closing to pressure from Within. Air or gas under pressure enters the tube 0 and escapes through the bung around the loose draft-tube.

The advantages of my device have been to some extent already stated. As the bung is permanent and contains a valve, nothing is driven, as are the corks under the present practice. The injury and disfigurement of metallic bungs are avoided, and the items of replacement and repair of such parts are entirely done away with. The device is, moreover, simple and inexpensive, containing few members and easily taken apart and refitted.

I do not limit myself to details of construction herein described, and shown in the drawings, as I desire to avail myself of such modifications and equivalents as fall properly within the spirit of my invention.

Havingthus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a receptacle, such as a keg, a hollow bung, a valve seated therein and having an opening adapted to register with the passage through the bung, an external tube fitting within the bung, and having means for operating said valve, and a draft-tube passing through said external tubebung and open valve.

2. A bung for barrels,&c., having a liquid passage and provided with a valve, a gear carried by said valve, a ring having an engaging gear, and means for turning said ring whereby the valve is operated. 7

3. A bung for barrels, 850., comprising a bung-casing adapted to be secured to the barrel; a plug fitting said casing, a valve seated in the plug and having a gear, a-toothed ring movable on the plug, and a face-ring; said toothed ring and face-ring being fitted to receive an implement for turning said ring and opening the valve.

4. In combination with the bung-casing, a plug, a valve seated therein and having a gear; a ring having an engaging gear and provided with notches, to receive lugs upon a turning implement; and a stationary facering within the bung-casing and having registering notches; whereby lugs on the turning implement can be inserted through the face-ring notches and into the toothed-ring notches, in order to turn the toothed ring.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY WENDT.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, F. M. BURT. 

